WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM
April 27, 1927.
Messrs: --
After searching through the records and even more thoroughly into my memory, I am afraid that our records fail to show that Madame Ramondt-Hirschmann was properly elected Recording and Financial Secretary. Miss Emily Balch was Secretary and Treasurer from the beginning. We accepted her resignation owing to her ill health when the [organization] was sponsoring an Economic Conference held at The Hague in December 1922. I had brought over with me approximately $10,000.00 for the use of the Conference at The Hague and for the support of the International Office. I was at that time on my way around the world meeting my friend Miss Smith in Paris in January and proceeding from there to the Mediterranean. Miss Balch, being rather conservative in regard to Swiss Banks, had banked the money of the Women's International League in New York. I, therefore, did not wish to put this money in the Geneva Bank and I asked the Executive Committee to appoint Madame Ramondt-Hirschmann as Financial Secretary and the money was finally left as her responsibility although actually placed in the Governmental Savings Bank ↑of Holland↓ and partly under the responsibility of Madame Palthe, one of our members who owned a good deal of property in Holland. I dimly recall that we afterwards had some difficulty in finding the record of this vote because Miss Vilma Glücklich, Secretary of the Executive Board Meetings had come later to that meeting. Madame Ramondt-Hirschmann performed the duties of Treasurer and also ↑in that capacity later↓ made the European arrangements for the Congress held in Washington in May 1924. The Minutes of the Board in Washington should show a [reelection] but I think the Minutes in Dublin would not show such a [reelection] as the last meeting was very hurried and I can only remember the debate over the Vice-President and Secretary. We took some time in considering the latter officer.
We have a perfectly clear record of Miss Balch having been elected Secretary and Treasurer and [page 2] as we have no other record of a Treasurer I do not see why her position would not still hold. I think Madame Ramondt-Hirschmann without difficulty could secure that record. I am sure that she would be willing to meet Mr. Tibbetts in Paris or perhaps it would be better still to meet him in Geneva at our [Headquarters]. We shall, of course, be very glad to pay his expenses from Paris to Geneva and it would be no longer a journey than from Paris to Amsterdam and also a very convenient one so far as good night trains are concerned.
I am enclosing a copy of this letter to Madame Ramondt-Hirschmann. She knows, of course, that we would defray her expenses to Geneva as she would be on League business ↑and [if] our records are there↓.
Perhaps you will recall that in the telegram I sent to the members of the Board -- and it is the members of the Executive Board who elect all the officers including the Treasurer -- I asked them to vote on Miss Balch as Treasurer. I understand that this election was after the will was made but nevertheless it might confirm the former election of which we have so clear a record. If the officer holds until a successor is appointed or elected Miss Balch would still be holding the office as Treasurer because we have never had any other.
Faithfully yours,
↑P.S. Mde Ramondt-Hirschmann was never supposed to succeed Miss Balch who was executive Sec'y and Treasurer. Miss Glücklich succeeded Miss Balch as ex. secy. Mde. Ramondt-Hirschmann was made financial sec'y and recording secy, a new office.↓
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